Beech Tree News Network

I want to take this opportunity to thank the people of Butler County for the honor of serving you as Butler County Judge-Executive for the past eight years and to officially announce my candidacy for re-election. 
When seeking elective office a few years ago, I stressed the importance of bringing people together and leadership through consensus building between all the stakeholders in the community.  As Judge-Executive, I have worked hard to bring that type of leadership to county government. 

The Butler County Fiscal Court faced a short agenda for their regular December meeting on Monday, December 9th, 2013. However, the meeting tuned into a 90-minute affair, with some contentious moments between magistrates and visitors. 

Rhonda Vaughn and Tiffany Wilson visited the meeting to present a certificate to the court on behalf of the Butler County Drug Free Community Coalition and the Barren River District Health Department. The certificate recognized the Fiscal Court for their actions earlier this autumn to make the Butler County Courthouse a tobacco-free facility. 

On Saturday, October 26th the Morgantown Square was abuzz with local residents and out-of-town guests, as the Morgantown-Butler County Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Harvest on the Square celebration.  According to Chamber Executive Director Robin Schroder, the event was the largest it has ever been, touting more than 60 booths. With city streets blocked on Main Street in between Morgantown City Hall and the Butler County Courthouse, attendees strolled the walkway perusing a wide array of vendors.  The event kicked off at 10 a.m. and wrapped up at 4 p.m.

Ground was broken on Monday, August 5th for another remembrance of Butler County veterans. Joining the Civil War statue and the existing War Memorial will be a Veteran's Wall of Honor on the lawn of the Butler County courthouse.

On Saturday, July 27, a court-ordered sale by the Butler County Sheriff’s Department was held at 12301 Russellville Road, the same location of an early morning shooting on June 24, 2012.  Sheriff Scottie Ward was named by the court as Administrator of the Estate of Justin Boord on October 23, 2012.  

According to Ward, he was court ordered on June 6, 2013, to sell the personal property belonging to Justin "Scott" Boord.   

A verified complaint and the defendants' response mark the latest stage in the ongoing conflict between a former sergeant with the Morgantown Police Department and the city and mayor for whom he worked. That conflict has now entered the legal realm with a lawsuit filed in Butler Circuit Clerk by former MPD Sergeant Andrew Gidcumb against the City of Morgantown and Mayor Linda Keown (individually and as mayor).  

UPDATE 4/22/13: An arrest has been made in year old death investigation.  Police have charged 19-year-old Daniel Hostetler of Metcalfe County with first degree manslaughter in the death of Brandon Crain, whose body was found in the Green River.

At approximately 8:23 a.m.

It's out with the old and in with the new as First Baptist Church in Morgantown is eyeing the construction of a fellowship hall.  In the meantime, the church moved forward this week with the demolition of its rectory located adjacent to the main sanctuary structure.  

A brick home originally built in 1951, the First Baptist Church rectory has served as living quarters for many church pastors and their families over the years.  It has most recently been used as rental property.    

Nerves were on edge for a few minutes Monday afternoon as school officials at North Butler Elementary found a handgun in the backpack of a second grade student - one that actually turned out to be a BB gun.  A staff member made the initial discovery and immediately took the backpack to Principal Jeff Jennings, who determined the handgun was actually a plastic "inoperable" BB gun.